Every girl deserves the chance to dream—and the tools to make that dream real.
Report on 13 Years of SHE Project
In the villages of West Bengal, too many girls face a life cut short by child marriage, poverty, and the threat of human trafficking. The SHE Project, supported by Yoga Gives Back and implemented by Nishtha, is breaking that cycle—one scholarship, one classroom, one leader at a time.
In 2013, Yoga Gives Back partnered with Nishtha to launch the SHE Project (Scholarship for Higher Education)—a bold initiative to break the cycle of poverty, early marriage, and gender-based violence.
In the first seven years, progress came slowly but surely. Dropout rates fell. Early marriages declined. Girls stayed in school, and one by one, we exceeded our targets. Hope—once unthinkable—took root. A future we had only dreamed of began to take shape. We were winning.
Then the storms came—both real and symbolic. COVID-19 struck with relentless cruelty, halting momentum, stripping away livelihoods, and pushing already vulnerable families to the brink. Before recovery could take hold, nature delivered blow after blow: Cyclones Amphan (2020), Yaas (2021), Remal and Dana (2024) tore through villages, flattened homes, and once again, it was the girls and women who suffered most.
Each disaster chipped away at the hard-won gains. Violence resurfaced. Child marriages spiked. Trafficking networks grew bolder. Dreams buckled under the weight of hunger, grief, and fear.
And yet, in this darkness, Project SHE stood as a lifeline—a steady beacon for those determined to hold on. Against grim national and state trends, SHE girls held their ground. With courage and unshakable resolve, they refused to drop out, marry early, or vanish into dangerous unknowns. They kept fighting—for education, dignity, and independence.
Thirteen years later, the results are nothing short of transformational. What began with just 31 girls has grown into a movement of education, dignity, and independence. Today, the SHE Project proudly supports 300 girls annually, ensuring they not only stay in school but thrive as leaders, earners, and changemakers. Read full report here.
Tackling the Education Crisis Head-On
In West Bengal, the challenges for girls are stark:
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65% of girls did not return to school post-pandemic.
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Child marriage rates have surged to 32.3%, the highest in India.
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The state accounts for 25% of India’s trafficking cases.
In this harsh reality, the SHE Project has achieved a 96% retention rate—a testament to the resilience of the girls, their families, and the Nishtha team.
From Dreams to Degrees—and Careers
The SHE Project has produced a diverse wave of empowered graduates now shaping their communities and futures. Among them are 28 nurses, 25 teachers, and 31 corporate professionals driving progress in health, education, and business; 40 entrepreneurs and tech leaders creating jobs and advancing digital literacy; 23 sales representatives and tutors building skills and income; and 8 social workers and bank operators improving local services and financial access. Many others are actively preparing for competitive exams to enter government and professional roles—proving that rural girls can be leaders, earners, and changemakers.
A Ripple Effect of Empowerment
The SHE Project’s reach extends beyond individual success stories:
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981 school dropouts prevented and re-enrolled in education.
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121 child marriages stopped with community involvement.
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19 trafficking attempts foiled through timely intervention.
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21 male support groups created to engage men in building safer communities.
This is grassroots change at its finest—girls who once faced silence and fear are now the voices of resistance, shaping a new future for the next generation.
The SHE Project is more than an education program—it’s a quiet revolution that proves investing in girls’ education is the fastest way to transform entire communities.
For 13 years, your donations have helped girls stay in school, earn higher education degrees, and step into careers and become community leaders. This is rural women’s empowerment in action.
But the need is greater than ever. With your support, we can:
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Stop more girls from disappearing from the education system
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Protect them from early marriage and trafficking
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Give them the skills to earn, lead, and inspire
💛 Donate today! See Ways to Support and help us empower more girls in rural India to become educated, self-reliant, and safe.
Read the full report here!
